Cooperation between Iceland and China on gender equality

Yesterday, 29 May, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Welfare in the Republic of Iceland, Anna Lilja Gunnarsdóttir, and Zhen Yan Vice President of All-China Women's Federation of the People's Republic of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to enhance gender equality. The MoU was signed during the visit of representatives of ACWF to Iceland where they were welcomed by the Minister of Welfare, Guðbjartur Hannesson. The Vice-President of ACWF also met with the Speaker of the Parliament and Permanent Secretaries as well as the Director of the Centre for Gender Equality and the Chairwoman of the Equal Rights Council in Iceland. The agreement on cooperation follows discussions initiated by Premier Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir during the official visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Iceland in April 2012. At their meeting both parties stressed strengthening exchanges and cooperation on gender equality. The Memorandum of Understanding stresses the exchange of experiences and learning for the mutual benefit of both societies.